329. Letter From the Special Assistant to the Under Secretary of State for Mutual Security Affairs (Barnes) to the Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs (Leffingwell)1
Dear Mr. Leffingwell: On January 31, 1957, I wrote Mr. Pike concerning the proposal of the Department of Defense to modernize the F–47 squadrons in Ecuador, Cuba and the Dominican Republic2 I indicated that the Department of State concurred in a recommendation of the Department of Defense that a squadron of thirteen F–80C aircraft to modernize its F–47 squadron should be furnished to the Dominican Republic on a reimbursable basis.
At that time this Department had certain doubts as to the desirability of furnishing the Dominican Republic with jet aircraft. However, it was our understanding that the Department of Defense [Page 919] had determined, upon the recommendation of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, that there was a military requirement for the aircraft in question, and with this in mind a decision was reached to approve the recommendation that the aircraft be furnished on a reimbursable basis.
As a result of events which have taken place in the past few months and information which has become available to this Department, the question of the desirability of furnishing this aircraft to the Dominican Republic has been reviewed. This Department has now reached the conclusion that it is not in the interests of this Government to furnish F–80C aircraft to the Dominican Republic at the present time.
It is therefore requested that the Department of Defense take appropriate action to assure that the aircraft will not be furnished to the Dominican Republic at this time.
Sincerely yours,